Fair Isle-Jan Mayen-Spitsbergen, Whale Safari

Spitsbergen Cruises

Starting from $2,500

The North Atlantic Odyssey cruise searches the waters of the North East Atlantic for a variety of marine life. The expedition crosses paths with dolphins as well as large baleen whales on the way to mysterious Jan Mayen with its massive volcano. The pack ice towards Svalbard may reveal surprises.

Rates & Dates Prices are per person and shown in USD.

Itinerary

You board the vessel at midday in Vlissingen, headed north – far north.

Day 2: Sea Life on the Move

Crossing the North Sea, you stand an excellent chance of spotting minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises.

Day 3: Sights of the Granite City

You arrive in Aberdeen, the Granite City, a frequent winner of the Britain in Bloom competition. This is the true start of your trip. Several cetaceans, including orcas (killer whales), are native to these seas. To the south, you see the lighthouse on Girdle Ness that was designed by the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish writer who gave us such classics as Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. More passengers join you in Aberdeen.

Day 4: Birds, Seals, and World-Famous Knits

At Fair Isle, in the Shetlands, the roughly seventy inhabitants (renowned for their knitwear) welcome you for a walk to the local bird observatory. This location is a haven for seabirds, though you may also spot grey seals.

Day 5-6: Jan Mayen Marine Life

You sail north to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, 300 nautical miles northeast of Iceland. Your two days at sea do not pass idly, however. Keep a close lookout for any spouts of water from the surrounding seas, heralding the arrival of a minke, fin, orca, or blue whale.

Day 7: Snow-Capped Seaside Volcano

Jan Mayen is a stark volcanic island crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mt. Beerenberg. From the slopes of this imposing 2,300-meter-high (7,545 feet) volcano, broken glaciers grasp out into the frigid sea. With permission from the Norwegian authorities, you can now visit the weather station. You can also walk to the remains of a 17th-century Dutch whaling station amid the thick moss beds of this stark volcanic landscape.

Day 8 - 10: Under the Midnight Sun

Basking in the midnight sun, you sail north along the edge of the sea ice in search of bowhead whales, harp seals, polar bears, and a variety of seabirds. You then change direction after about 79° north, cutting west to the rocky edges of the continental shelf of West Spitsbergen. Here you have a good chance of seeing fin whales and – near the glacial mouths of the gaping Spitsbergen fjords – surfacing minke whales.

Day 11: Walrus Watching

The wildlife objective this day is walrus watching in Forlandsundet. In the evening you can also land at Alkhornet, a seabird colony under which you might find reindeer and Arctic foxes moving along the slopes.

Day 12: Journey’s End in Longyearbyen

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. You disembark in Longyearbyen, the administrative center of Spitsbergen, for your flight home – but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

Plancius

Included

All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea

All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac

Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff

Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes

Transfers and baggage handling between the airport, hotels and ship only for those passengers on the group flights to and from Longyearbyen

All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program

AECO fees and governmental taxes

Comprehensive pre-departure material

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of expedition cruising, itineraries are subject to change due to weather, ice conditions, natural and cultural events, wildlife viewing opportunities and other logistical considerations. In general, a ship's crew will endeavor to complete the itinerary provided, but the ultimate decision lies with the ship's captain and expedition leaders.